Dual unit syringe

ABSTRACT

A dual unit syringe capable of supporting a plurality of isolated medicaments or pharmaceuticals separated one from the other under such circumstances that they will be maintained in stable form for long shelf life. The syringe has means using one liquid medicament and a cannula containing another and different liquid medicament under such circumstances that the medicaments can be mixed in and expelled from the cannula in blended form.

United States Patent 218M, 218N, 218NV, 218?, 218PA, 218.1, 218.2, 221, 272; 222/145, 309; 128/225, 234, 235, 239, 261

ll, /0 ll [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,856,925 10/1958 Helmer et a1. 128/218 3,276,632 10/1966 Stanzel 222/83.5 3,326,416 6/1967 Hayes 222/145X 3,354,883 1 H1967 Southerland 128/272X Primary Examiner- Richard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner-Kyle L. Howell Atlorney- Rommel & Rommel ABSTRACT: A dual unit syringe capable of supporting a pluralit'y of isolated medicaments or pharmaceuticals separated one from the other under such circumstances that they will be maintained in stable form for long shelf life. The syringe has means using one liquid medicament and a cannula containing another and different liquid medicament under such circumstances that the medicaments can be mixed in and expelled from the cannula in blended form.

DUAL UNIT SYRINGE This invention relates to a dual unit syringe capable of supporting a plurality of isolated medicaments or pharmaceuticals. The medicaments are separated from one another under such circumstances that they will be maintained in stable form and properly packaged for long shelf life. The syringe parts are so associated that the medicaments can, with ease, at the time of intended use, be properly blended and applied.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of a dual unit syringe which is adapted to be used for admixing a plurality of pharmaceuticals, one of the pharmaceuticals being penicillin. Penicillin is sensitive to various bases and other drugs frequently necessary to be added thereto as a supplement. It is easily destroyed or degraded when compounded with other pharmaceuticals. it is necessary therefore to isolate penicillin and maintain it in a very stable form. Therefore, the dual unit syringe of this invention comprises means for isolating the penicillin under such circumstances that the syringe can be manipulated for expelling medicinal supplements into penicillin and applying the resultant mixture.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a dual unit syringe which consist of a main tubular body adapted to receive a pharmaceutical or pharmaceuticals, and having as sociated therewith a cannula adapted to isolate penicillin under such circumstances that at the time of use the pharmaceuticals of the tubular body may be expelled into and through the penicillin of the cannula and the resultant mixture applied as desired. I

A further object of this invention is the provision of a convenient and satisfactory means of packaging and maintaining a multiple dose syringe with medicinal ingredients thereof separated until desired to be used, and under such circumstances that the syringe may be operated to cause admixture of the ingredients and application at a desired time.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a dual unit syringe capable of handling a plurality of medicaments respectively isolated from each other within the syringe, and under such circumstances that they may be admixed at the proper time and applied. One such use would be infusing the mammary gland of a cow through the teat canal.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming portions of this specification, and in which drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the assembled dual unit syringe.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken through the syringe showing the parts of the same ready for medicinal application.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a different form of dual unit syringe in which expulsion power is received from an aerosol container.

H6. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken through a cannula adapted to isolate penicillin under such circumstances that it can be maintained for a prolonged shelf life prior to compounding.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, showing the upper end of a tubular body or container adapted to receive one or more pharmaceuticals.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration are shown different forms of the invention, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A may generally designate the preferred form of invention and B a modification thereof. ln both forms of invention a cannula 10 is provided, which may be of any desirable material, preferably a synthetic plastic, It comprises an elongated tubular body 11 which at the upper end thereof tapers at 12 in an upward converging relation. It is provided withan applicator nozzle inserting stem or needle 13 of uniform diameter from end to end. The body 11 has a chamber 12 therein adapted to receive penicillin, or some other pharmaceutical which is intended to be expelled through the tapered passageway 14 of the neck 12 and then through the duct 15 of the applicator tube 13. A removable cap 16 normally seals the outer end of the nozzle 13. The tubular body 11 intermediate the ends thereof is provided with a rupturable membrane 20 adapted to seal off the chamber 12 for the purpose of isolating the body of penicillin 21 in liquid form. The tubular body 11 below the membrane 20 has a socket 22 and a base flange 23; the socket 22 being adapted to receive a tubular nozzle 25 at the outer or upper end of the syringe tubular body 30.

The tubular body 30 is preferably made of plastic and is of uniform diameter from end to end. It has a chamber 31 therein adapted to receive one or more supplemental medicaments. At its outer end it is provided with an end wall 32, upon which the nozzle 25 is mounted; a duct 34 extending through the wall 32 and the nozzle 25. The tubular body 30 at the lower end thereof is provided with laterally extending handle or finger flanges 36 as shown in the drawing. The chamber 31 is of uniform diameter from end to end and opens at the same diameter at the lower end of the tubular body 30. It is adapted to receive one or more supplemental pharmaceuticals, such as neomycin, dihydrostreptomycin, hydrocortisone or sulfonamides.

ln the form of invention A the means for expelling the liquid pharmaceuticals from the tubular body 30 into the cannula and through the medicament therein may comprise a single dose plunger or a plunger 40 which consists of a body formed of a plurality of radially extending flat flanges 60, connected centrally at 61. They are notched at 62 at the outer edges thereof. The upper ends of these flanges support a slidable plunger head 64 of flexible plastic or other suitable material. lt is adapted for insertion through the bottom opening of the chamber 31 and operates in leak-proof sliding relation in the chamber 31. The flanges 61 at the lower ends thereof support a palm engaging base or flange 66. A plunger limiting nut or ring 67 is threaded in the notches 62 having a segmental rib 68 thereon for such purpose. Rotation of the nut or ring 67 enables it to be properly located along the length of the plunger so as to permit a proper dosage of the amount of the medicament or combination of medicament 70 from ,the chamber 31 to be expelled into and through the cannula 10.

In the areosol type of syringe B, the cannula 10 is similar in structure to that above described. It also includes an aerosol container adapted to receiver the medicaments in liquified gas. The container 80 has an adapter cap 81 with a nozzle 25" similar to the nozzle 25 of the form of invention A and for the same purpose. The cap 81 is provided with an operating handle 82 which may be manipulated as by tilting, as with conventional aerosol syringes to release the medicament and gas from the container 80 for the admixture with penicillin as it passes through the cannula 10.

It will be noted in the form of invention A that the syringe barrel or tube 30 has a plunger adapted to divide the combination of medicaments 70 into four doses. As before stated, the plunger may provide for a single dose or a multiple dose. In the multiple dose the assembly should include a number of loaded cannulas 10 with the medicament 21 in amount equivalent to the number of doses. to be disbursed from chamber 31. The package as sold may comprise the equipment above described and with each syringe barrel there is provided four cannulas 10, each loaded with penicillin or some other medicament. The user can remove an empty cannula after administering one dose and continue using the same syringe barrel for the application of the remaining three doses.

Various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be made to the forms of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

lclaim:

1. in a dual unit medicament dispensing syringe the combination of a tubular body having a chamber therein containing a liquid medicament and having a reduced top discharged nozzle provided with a passageway therethrough communicating with the chamber, the chamber at the lower end of said tudischarge passage communicatng with said cannula chamber, said cannula at is its opposite end from said applicator having a sealing disc disposed inwardly a sufiicient distance from said end to provide an opened ended socket receiving the nozzle of the tubular body, said socket being of such length that when the nozzle is fully inserted therein it will rupture the disc, and a removable sealing cap for the reduced end of said cannula. 

1. In a dual unit medicament dispensing syringe the combination of a tubular body having a chamber therein containing a liquid medicament and having a reduced top discharged nozzle provided with a passageway therethrough communicating with the chamber, the chamber at the lower end of said tubular body being opened, plunger means adjustably extending through said opening into the chamber having rotatable nonremovable length adjustable means threaded thereon to variably limit the operating travel of the plunger in the chamber whereby to control the amount of liquid medicament dosage expelled from said chamber, a removable cannula having a chamber containing a liquid medicament therein provided with an outer diametrically reduced applicator with a discharge passage communicatng with said cannula chamber, said cannula at is its opposite end from said applicator having a sealing disc disposed inwardly a sufficient distance from said end to provide an opened ended socket receiving the nozzle of the tubular body, said socket being of such length that when the nozzle is fully inserted therein it will rupture the disc, and a removable sealing cap for the reduced end of said cannula. 